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Television Academy

"Drag Race UK" on the Move
Show to Stream on WOW Presents Plus Exclusively After BBC Cancellation
From Deadline

For the first time in herstory, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is headed to WOW Presents Plus from the BBC, with the streaming platform ordering the first-ever All Stars edition. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars is set to premiere in Fall 2027 to celebrate “the artistry of the Queens who have worked the UK runway.”

The competition series will stream on the platform alongside all eight seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and the three seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. The World.

“It has been a pleasure working with everyone at The BBC, and we wish them well,” Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato said in a statement. “While we don’t get to choose when opportunity knocks, we could not be more excited for this new chapter.”

The Drag Race franchise is a global phenomenon with local editions around the world, including Canada, México, Belgium, France, Brazil, Australia, the Philippines, and more.

MTV recently renewed the original RuPaul’s Drag Race for Season 19 and ordered Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

Bailey and Barbato added, “Historically, during times of anxiety and regression, the queer, trans, and drag communities are often targeted. Today is no exception. We at World of Wonder are so grateful to our members for their support, and we remain steadfast in the values that make RuPaul’s Drag Race more than just a fiercely entertaining show. For millions, it’s a lifeline, a safe space, and a celebration, and WOW Presents Plus is incredibly proud to keep providing that platform.”

News of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars came after The Sun reported the BBC had axed the main series amid major cuts at the British broadcaster.

Deadline
The Sun
Variety
Reality Blurred
BBC News

The Hollywood Reporter

posted 9/10/2026


Fox

"The Floor" Renewed in Japan
Nippon TV's Recommission Bumps "Special" to "Series"
From FormatBIz

John de Mol’s Talpa Studios has secured a recommission in Japan for its hit show The Floor. Last year, Japan became the milestone 30th territory to commission the show. Now, the format has achieved another significant milestone, as leading Japanese broadcaster Nippon TV has ordered a second season. The season kicks off on Wednesday, October 21 on Nippon TV and its network stations throughout Japan – in the broadcaster's 7 pm golden-time slot.

Originally launched in March 2026 as a three-hour prime-time celebrity special - the format's first adaptation in Asia - The Floor has quickly earned a broader commitment from Nippon TV, which has now commissioned a full season. The new season will air as a weekly series, with an all-celebrity cast of 32 contestants. Junichi Okada, the award-winning actor whose international profile continues to rise following the Netflix series Last Samurai Standing, returns as host.

Shuichi Oi, Managing Director, Programming & Platform Strategy, Content Strategy Headquarters, Nippon TV: “Nippon TV's edition of The Floor received an overwhelmingly positive response when it first premiered this March; its fast-paced gameplay and strategic psychological battles set it apart from traditional Japanese quiz shows. Following that success, we are delighted to bring the show to Japanese audiences as a regular weekly series. The Floor goes beyond the boundaries of a conventional quiz format to deliver compelling human drama, laying bare the contestants' raw emotions and relentless determination. We believe it will become must-watch weekly viewing for Japanese audiences from October onward.”

Misaki Nanzai, Creative Director, Nippon TV: “The Japanese version of The Floor brings together top comedians, celebrities, YouTubers, and even Olympic medalists for fierce head-to-head battles to stay in the game. Knowledge alone is not enough - it also takes unwavering mental strength, strategic thinking, and the ability to make split-second decisions under pressure. I am truly delighted to bring audiences the genuine emotion and human drama that only a competition as intense as The Floor can draw out of its contestants.”

Sebastian van Barneveld, Director Global Distribution at Talpa Studios: “A second season in Japan is an exceptional achievement and something we're incredibly proud of. Japan is one of the world's most competitive entertainment markets, where recommissions for international formats are far from guaranteed. Seeing The Floor return so quickly is a fantastic endorsement of the format's universal appeal and a testament to the outstanding collaboration with Nippon TV.”

In the original version of The Floor, 100 quiz fanatics face off in quiz duels on a giant LED floor divided into one hundred equal squares, each representing its own field of knowledge. The goal is to conquer the entire floor and take home a huge cash prize. The rules are simple. A random contestant challenges an adjoining opponent in a quiz duel. They play against each other in the category of the opponent's square. Categories range from 'famous athletes' to 'Hollywood actors' and from ‘iconic buildings’ to 'mammals'. Some questions are visually supported by photographs, others by sound, while other duels focus on open questions, multiple choice, association: the possibilities are endless. The winner of a duel conquers his opponent's square, gaining more ground - the loser leaves the game. The further the game progresses, the more exciting the duels become and the higher the stakes. After eight episodes, who will be the last person standing on The Floor?

FormatBiz
Nppon TV
Variety

posted 9/10/2026


Fremantle/CBS

Premiere Week Is Coming...
Details on the New Seasons of LMAD, TPIR
From Paramount Press Express

CBS announces the fall premiere dates and broadcast milestones for its unparalleled daytime lineup. The Network has held its spot as the highest-rated network in daytime for 40 consecutive seasons, including network television’s #1 daytime series THE PRICE IS RIGHT; LET’S MAKE A DEAL; the #1 daytime drama for 37 seasons, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; and television’s newest daytime drama, BEYOND THE GATES.

Drew Carey will “Come on Down!” for his 20th season as the host of THE PRICE IS RIGHT, the longest consecutively running game show in television history. The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 55th season beginning Monday, Sept. 21 on CBS. This season, Wednesdays are getting even more exciting with “Wild Wheel Wednesday.” During the Showcase Showdown, contestants will have the chance to win not only over $100,000, but also a special prize chosen by Drew, making every spin of the Big Wheel even more thrilling. Themed episodes this season include Veteran’s Day, Halloween, Earth Day, Breast Cancer Awareness, Pet Adoption Week, Pride, Cinco De Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Week. Returning this season are announcer George Gray and fan-favorite models Rachel Reynolds, Manuela Arbeláez, Amber Lancaster, James O’Halloran, Devin Goda and Alexis Gaube.

Emmy Award-winning host Wayne Brady brings more deals, big prizes and surprises when the 18th season of LET’S MAKE A DEAL returns Monday, Sept. 21 on CBS. The season premiere includes a brand-new game, “Cash Course,” a ball-rolling obstacle course where Traders line up green and gold balls on a custom-designed course for a guaranteed chance to win big cash, with the opportunity to take home a grand prize of $10,000 – but look out for the spinning duck, stone toad and the octopus! This season also marks a major milestone for LET’S MAKE A DEAL, with the show celebrating its 3,000th episode with Brady as host. The milestone will be commemorated with a special episode airing in January 2027. Returning this season are announcer Jonathan Mangum, model Tiffany Coyne and musician Cat Gray, who all bring their signature blend of improv comedy, music, iconic games and, of course, those infamous Zonks.

Paramount Press Express
The Futon Critic

TV Insider

TV Insider

posted 9/10/2026

More on "The Mob"
Catch It on Hulu, Disney+ October 26
From the Futon Critic

Hosted by Emmy-nominated actress Parker Posey, "The Mob" is a high-stakes reality competition series that sends a group of celebrities to a lavish Italian villa where they will shake down, hustle and whack their way to win up to $250,000 in cash prizes. Every episode, they will tackle mob movie-inspired jobs to survive. But every mob family needs a don, and whoever they choose will have absolute power - deciding who makes money, who stays, and who ultimately gets whacked. In a game where power demands absolute loyalty, can the don stay in control, or will the family rise up and overthrow them?

"The Mob" is produced by Studio Lambert and Primal Media (part of the STV Studios family of production labels). Executive producers for Studio Lambert include Tim Harcourt, Jack Burgess, Niall O'Driscoll and Stephen Lambert. Adam Wood and Mat Steiner, who conceived the format for "The Mob," are executive producers for Primal Media along with David Mortimer, chief executive officer of STV Studios. Host Parker Posey serves as executive producer, and Susan House serves as showrunner.

The contestants, in alphabetical order, are...
- Willam Belli ("RuPaul's Drag Race")
- Demi Engemann ("The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives")
- Maria Georgas ("Bachelor" Nation)
- Joe Gorga ("The Real Housewives of New Jersey")
- Harry Jowsey ("Let's Marry Harry")
- Chelsea Lazkani ("Selling Sunset")
- Debi Mazar ("Younger")
- Bella Palk ("Love Overboard")
- Shane Parton ("Bachelor" Nation)
- Romeo (rapper)
- Bruno Tonioli ("Dancing With the Stars")
- Aida Turturro ("The Sopranos").

The Futon Critic
The Hollywood Reporter

posted 9/10/2026

Fighting with My Family
Logan & Jake Paul Bring "Fight Island" (wt) to Hulu, Disney+
From Deadline

Jake and Logan Paul are coaching a new generation of fighters. The brothers, who are YouTube stars with various experience in boxing and wrestling, as well as courting controversy, have landed a fight competition series at Hulu and ESPN.

The untitled series, which previously had the working title Fight Island, is a major statement from Disney and is intended to appeal to young, male audiences.

The series comes from Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, which is behind series such as Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret and A&E’s Duck Dynasty reboot, and Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.

In the works for some time, the series is a “ruthless competition where eliminations are not settled by a vote; they are settled by a fight.”

“Split into rival teams, coached by two rival brothers, the fighters live and train together in the wild. But the battle really begins before the fight, because fighters choose the matchups, turning every alliance, every rivalry into a strategic weapon. Jake and Logan will send the losers of each fight home until just one man and one woman are left standing to claim victory,” reads the logline.

The fights will take all shapes from MMA to boxing, wrestling, jiu jitsu, muay Thai and karate.

It marks the first time that Hulu and ESPN have co-greenlit a series, which has started to cast and is expected to go into production in the new year. It will add a male-skewing show to Hulu’s unscripted lineup, which is predominantly female-skewing with series such as The Kardashians, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Vanderpump Villa.

The brothers, who have over 100 million social media followers across TikTok, Instagram and X, previously appeared together on HBO Max reality series Paul American, which launched last year. They both got their start on Vine and YouTube before pivoting into the world of fighting.

The series is exec produced by Montgomery, Glenn Hugill and Courtney White from Wheelhouse; Bidarian and Jake Paul from Most Valuable Promotions; and Logan Paul, Will Nothacker, Shyam Balse, Josie Lamberth and Charlie Ebersol.

Deadline
Awful Announcing

posted 9/10/2026

Thursday Lightning Round
... or "Voice of a Vixen"

  • Jenny Ryan in recovery after thyroid surgery (1News)

  • "The Traitors" on the West End tap Nick Mohammed as host (The Stage)

  • Guillermo Rodriguez gained 10 pounds since starting "Dancing with the Stars" (Us Weekly)

  • The heartwarming story of how Vanna White's dress ended up on her son (TV Insider)

  • Jennifer Hudson, George Huff reunited (TV Insider)

  • Arabella Chi signs with Rizzo the Agency (Deadline)

  • FIRST LOOK: Is It Cake? Halloween season 2 (Netflix, October 9) (The Futon Critic)

posted 9/10/2023


Fox Entertainment/BiggerStage

More on "Name That Tune" Season 6
Catch It on Fox September 21
From the Futon Critic

Another group of celebrities will try to name songs on the new season of Name That Tune. Plus, see a first look at Robin Thicke as the new band leader.

Former bandleader Randy Jackson is staying on as music supervisor this season, where he will be “continuing to lend his unparalleled expertise and passion as a consulting music supervisor, helping shape the show’s signature sound and creative vision.”

The games will be two 30-minute episodes on one night. The first game will have two celebrities facing off against each other for charity. The second will have civilians playing for their own chance at winning.

Here are the celebrities playing this season:
- Rapper/Actor Ice-T (Long Island Bulldog Rescue) and Skateboarder/Entrepreneur Tony Hawk (The Skatepark Project)
- Actor/Comedian Thomas Lennon (Teen Cancer America) and Actress/Comedian D’Arcy Carden (UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Foundation)
- Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test DS Jason Fox (Force Blue) and Billy Billingham (REBUILD Globally)
- Actor Brian Austin Green (Race to Erase MS) and Actress Daphne Zuniga (Holistic Life Foundation)
- Grammy-Nominated Singer/Songwriter Elle King (Next for Autism) and TV Personality Chrishell Stause (A Sense of Home)
- Actress/Singer Christina Milian (Hands For Hope) and TV Personality Luann de Lesseps (GLAAD)
-
NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer (Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade) and TV Personality Phaedra Parks (Usher’s New Look Foundation)

Ice-T & Tony Hawk will face off in the season premiere September 21 on Fox.

The Futon Critic
TV Insider

posted 9/9/2026

Game Shows: An Oral History
Bob Boden to Host Seminar
From Smithsonian Associates

In 1923, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle debuted a local radio program called “Brooklyn Eagle Quiz on Current Events,” the earliest known example of a game show in mass media. Over the next century, game shows spread from radio to broadcast and cable television and, more recently, streaming platforms. Along the way, they survived scandals, congressional investigations, and repeated predictions of their demise—while awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and prizes to contestants around the world.

When radio gave way to television in the late 1940s, familiar quiz formats evolved to take advantage of the new visual medium. By the 1950s, America was captivated by high-stakes prime-time quiz shows and the ordinary people who became national celebrities overnight. That fascination came crashing down with the quiz show scandals, which exposed widespread manipulation and sparked public outrage, government investigations, and lasting changes to the industry. Yet game shows endured. Over the decades, more than 1,000 different formats have entertained generations of viewers, combining knowledge, skill, luck, and the enduring appeal of watching everyday people win big.

Drawing on nearly 50 years in the industry, game show producer and archivist Bob Boden—co-founder of the National Archives of Game Show History and executive producer of the CBS series Funny You Should Ask—traces the evolution of the genre through archival clips, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights into the programs that became cultural touchstones. From early radio quizzes to enduring favorites such as Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, Boden explores why game shows remain one of television’s most resilient and beloved forms of entertainment.

Smithsonian Associates

posted 9/9/2026

Is "Love at First Sight" Still a Thing?
Netflix Aims to Find Out with New Dating Series
From the Futon Critic

You know what it feels like. That moment when someone walks into a room, and the energy completely shifts - possibly changing your life forever.

Do you believe you could see someone and know instantly that they're the one? A group of singles will come face-to-face with that question in the upcoming dating series Love at First Sight. Over the course of the series, they'll discover if a first impression can lead to everlasting love.

If you'd like the chance to join the bold new dating experiment, click below to begin the journey to meet a potential soulmate.

Executive produced by Jen O'Connell and Rebecca Quinn, Love at First Sight is the latest project between Netflix and Velvet Hammer Media, following Age of Attraction and the upcoming Nick Cannon docuseries.

This upcoming series will join Netflix's growing unscripted slate alongside additional titles like Temptation Island, Million Dollar Secret, Age of Attraction, Love Is Blind, Weight to Date, and more.

The Futon Critic
Netflix Tudum
Deadline

posted 9/9/2026

2026 NTAs: And the Awards Went To...
Ant & Dec Leave Empty-Handed for the First Time in 25 Years
From the Manchester Evening News

The winners for the 2026 National Television Awards have been officially announced following the latest star-studded ceremony in the capital.

This year's event is taking place in London’s O2 on Tuesday (September 8) night, with a huge number of famous faces from all genres of TV set to be in attendance as they celebrate another year of what's been happening on the telly.

The 2026 ceremony also marks the 31st NTAs, with the public able to vote for who they want to win in each categoryThere were 15 awards up for grabs, including gongs for the best talent show, authored documentary, quiz show and the relatively new award for best reality competition.

The NTAs were celebrating their first all-female drama performance shortlist – with Gavin And Stacey star Ruth Jones to compete with Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Sheridan Smith and Vicky McClure for the prize.

Meanwhile, reality documentaries starring Wythenshawe's own Tyson Fury, Jeremy Clarkson, Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash are also among the shows competing for a prize. They have been nominated in a new category recognising the rise of fly-on-the-wall celebrity-led shows, with At Home With The Furys, Clarkson’s Farm and Stacey & Joe to go head-to-head for the inaugural award. Their competition included Fletchers’ Family Farm, in which Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher turns to rural life, and the fishing programme led by comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse – Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

But who won big on the night? Here are all the nominees from the night with the winners in bold...

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award
- Gladiators
- Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
- The Graham Norton Show
- The Masked Singer
- Would I Lie to You?

TV Presenter
- Alison Hammond (The Great British Baking Show)
- Ant & Dec (Britain's Got Talent)
- Claudia Winkleman (The Traitors UK)
- David Attenborough (Secret Garden)
- Stacey Solomon (Loose Women)

Reality Competition
- I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
- I’m A Celebrity… South Africa
- Race Across the World
- The Celebrity Traitors
- The Traitors

Quiz Show
- Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win
- Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel
- Richard Osman’s House of Games
- The 1% Club
- The Chase

Comedy
- Amandaland
- Changing Ends
- Last One Laughing
- Mrs Brown’s Boys
- Not Going Out

Talent Show
- Britain’s Got Talent
- Strictly Come Dancing
- The Great British Bake Off
- The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer
- The Great Pottery Throw Down


Manchester Evening News
The Irish Sun
Digital Spy
RadioTimes

posted 9/9/2026


Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery

PAUSE.
Antitrust Trial Set for March 2027
From Variety

The Supreme Court has set a Sept. 25 deadline for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general to respond to Iowa and Montana’s objection to their lawsuit against the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

“Upon consideration of plaintiffs’ motion for expedited consideration, it is hereby ordered that defendants are allowed until September 25, 2026, to file responses to the motion for leave to file a bill of complaint,” the court said in an order on Wednesday.

The move comes after Republican Attorneys General Brenna Bird and Austin Knudsen previously filed a motion asking the court to block the states’ “politicized” antitrust lawsuit against the pending $110 billion deal.

Bird and Knudsen argue that the litigation is depriving the Iowa and Montana economies of the benefits of the deal and harming “tens of thousands of employees of Paramount and Warner Bros., as well as hundreds of millions who watch their movies, shows, and news through a variety of sources” in the process.

They also said that the Supreme Court is the only venue that can resolve a “controversy between sovereigns” and that it should “enjoin the Defendant States’ suit and decide the issue for itself, ensuring a prompt and fair adjudication of the merger.”At the time, the pair requested a response deadline of Sept. 15 and an Oct. 9 conference hearing.

A spokesperson for Bonta’s office previously told TheWrap that the state was reviewing the filing and would “respond as appropriate.”

Paramount has agreed to delay the closing until five days after the outcome of a trial, or June 1, 2027, whichever comes earliest. The antitrust trial is set to start on March 2 and end on March 19, 2027. By the time trial concludes and the parties submit their final briefs, Paramount expects to pay WBD shareholders at least $1.3 billion in ticking fees.

Paramount is continuing to press a dozen states led by California and the Writers Guild of America to bear the costs of the hold up caused by their lawsuits challenging the $111 billion megamerger. The studio has asked for a $1.88 billion bond to cover losses if it wins the cases.

In July, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín temporarily halted the deal and scheduled a trial for March, months past its target closing date of late September. There will be major financial repercussions for the delay. Under the agreement, Warners shareholders are owed roughly $650 million per quarter or $6.9 million per day if the merger hasn’t closed by Oct. 1. The bond represents the maximum payout to investors, plus legal fees.

It also said that the delay threatens to nullify the regulatory approvals that Paramount has spent months securing, noting that it would have to take additional steps at “substantial expense” if the transaction still hasn’t closed by the end of the trial.

“We have satisfied all closing conditions under our merger agreement, having received regulatory clearances from 68 jurisdictions. These two lawsuits are the only barrier to closing this transaction,” a Paramount spokesperson told TheWrap. “Both the Clayton Act, the federal antitrust law upon which these suits are based, and other federal law expressly provide that plaintiffs are required to post a bond covering the potential harm from halting a transaction to litigate, so that if they lose, the injured party has a source of recovery for the damage caused. Here, every month of delay carries substantial and quantifiable financial consequences.”

In addition to the financing costs and ticking fee, the Ellison-led media giant warned that there would be “no integration and no ramped-up investment in content, production, and creative talent by the combined company” for at least eight months. The spokesperson also said that employees of both companies would be harmed by the uncertainties caused by the delay. “We remain confident that plaintiffs’ case is without merit and will defend our pro-competitive transaction in court,” Paramount’s statement concluded. “We look forward to closing this transaction and delivering its benefits to consumers and entertainment industry workers in California, the United States and around the world.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office responded to the bond request in a statement to media later Monday, saying that it was an additional “blackmail” effort “to get us to back down” from going to trial.

“Paramount and Warner Bros. are two sophisticated companies who willfully decided to include a costly ticking fee as a provision in their merger contract,” the statement read. “They knew this merger would undergo regulatory review; they knew it was not a done deal; and they chose to include it anyway.

“What’s more, Paramount itself stipulated to the timing it is now protesting — they agreed to the dates and did not request a bond as a condition of agreeing not to close until after the trail, and potentially as late as June 2027. Now, they’re trying to get a do-over.

“Bottom line: Paramount went into this process with eyes wide open. They are lying a bed of their own making, and once again, trying to blackmail us to get us to back down.”

MEANWHILE...
- The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. could cost about 4,500 film and TV jobs over three years, according to a new report issued by Los Angeles County. The report, prepared by CVL Economics, argues that the merger would accelerate the downturn in L.A. production, which has already cost 52,000 jobs over the last four years. The report also notes that the combined company would face significant pressure to reduce costs in order to pay down debt, which could entail moving production out of Los Angeles and consolidating slates.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging David Ellison and California Attorney General Rob Bonta to “find common ground” and settle a lawsuit seeking to block the pending $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. “While there are varying perspectives on the proposed transaction, today we are united around one clear message: It is time for all parties to come to the table,” Bass said during a news conference on Thursday. “The continued uncertainty is not good for workers, not good for productions and not good for the future of this industry. Too many productions in L.A. are now at a standstill, which means Angelenos are out of a job and they’re not getting paid.” “As mayor, I cannot stand by while the job security of thousands of hardworking union members is being put at risk. That is why we are calling on Paramount, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and all relevant parties to come together, engage directly and in good faith, and work urgently to find common ground and keep our vital industry in Los Angeles at a time when film and television production is already facing significant challenges,” Bass continued. “We cannot afford prolonged uncertainty that delays investment, puts production on hold, and creates greater instability for thousands of workers and family.”
- The Writers Guild of America fired back at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday after she expressed support for a settlement in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger lawsuit. “We are disappointed that Mayor Bass has chosen to join Paramount’s pressure campaign on public enforcers, to push through a merger that is being rightfully challenged as illegal and will lead to job losses in the entertainment industry,” the WGA asserted, adding that she spoke after a report to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors estimated that “thousands of jobs will be lost if the merger proceeds."
- Investment bankers are preparing for potential asset sales that could come with a settlement. Bloomberg reports that bankers have approached would-be buyers about acquiring New Line Cinema, which has produced “It” and “The Lord of The Rings: Rings of Power.” The outlet also said that WBD’s cable networks are attracting interest, noting that some potential buyers have weighed bidding for Comedy Central. Representatives for Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.
- A group supporting the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger is using artificial intelligence to help pressure California Attorney General Rob Bonta to drop his antitrust lawsuit. The group, which uses the neutral-sounding name Neighbors for Strong Communities, uses AI to craft letters that are sent to Bonta’s office, but says that the senders are all real people. “Anyone should be able to tell their story, and we use tech to make it easy for them,” said Tanner Kelly, the group’s co-founder. “Nothing we do is AI-generated. It’s AI-assisted. It’s a real person telling a story.”
- Hannah Einbinder, Bradley Whitford, Rati Gupta, W. Kamau Bell, Kristen Vangsness and Jane Fonda urged opposition to the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal in a new video from Hollywood’s Block the Merger Coalition to rally support for a “no concessions” petition as the State AGs’ lawsuit moves towards trial..

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posted 9/9/2026


Sony Pictures TV/CBS Media Ventures

"Wheel" Sprints Into 44
New Twist Added to Toss-Ups
From the Wrap

“Wheel of Fortune” is bringing a new, rapid-fire game to its lineup for its 44th season, which premieres Monday, Sept. 14. Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White stopped “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to tease “Wheel of Fortune’s” new format.

Starting with its return next week, the long-running game show, which launched all the way back in 1975, will open each of its episodes with a new game called “Fortune Frenzy.”

A rapid-fire-style contest, “Fortune Frenzy” will offer contestants the chance to win $1,000 for each puzzle they solve during the game. The catch? They will only be given seconds to solve each puzzle. Seacrest said the game is designed to “shake off the nerves of the contestants at the top.”

“Because they’re so excited. The adrenaline is pumping and rushing,” Seacrest explained. “They’ve got to focus right in on playing the game and I noticed that when we did some of the first episodes.”

“There’s nothing else to think about but, ‘Solve that puzzle.’ It’s gotta be quick,” White said, echoing Seacrest’s sentiments. “They have nothing else on their mind but solving it.”

“This is exciting,” Seacrest said of the format change. “A lot of people say, ‘How do you get more games in this show? It’s not a long show.’ So we’re squeezing more gameplay at the top of the show with a rapid-fire game that we just started to have, which I love.”

The Sun
TV Insider
The Wrap
TV Insider
ABC News Good Morning America
People
Page Six
USA Today
Fast Company

posted 9/9/2026


Sony Pictures TV/CBS Media Ventures

Jim Thornton Fired
Sony Investigated Allegations of Disturbing Behavior
From Deadline

Former “Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton seemingly shut down his Facebook account after he was fired by the show Friday.

The game show personality’s social media account went “dark” just “hours” after news broke that he’d been officially axed, according to TMZ. The outlet also reported Friday that Thornton had been “scrubbed” from the iconic program’s social media channels, with his name and image disappearing.

Per TMZ, the page — which previously contained “behind-the-scenes photos and videos of Jim on the popular game show set” — had been active earlier Friday.

Sony Pictures Television, which produces the long-running gameshow, has axed Thornton after an alleged incident on an American Airlines flight in May.

“Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately,” a studio spokeswoman reports in a statement.

It comes only three days after the studio suspended Thornton, recasting the role and conducting an investigation.

It also comes after TMZ reported that the incident on the plane involved him allegedly visiting a chatroom that is used by “people with pedophilic thoughts”.

Thornton will no longer be heard on the gameshow with his interim replacement taking over his role on the upcoming season, which premieres on September 14, as well as on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which returns to ABC on October 2. A permanent replacement is expected to be announced in due course.

An American Airlines spokesperson told Deadline that law enforcement met the plane on its arrival in L.A.

“On ​May 14, ​American Airlines ​Flight ​1276 ​was met by ​law enforcement ​upon ​arrival at ​Los ​Angeles ​International ​Airport ​(LAX) following concerns reported by a customer ​onboard,” they said.

Thornton has been the announcer for the syndicated game show since 2011 as well as ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune since its launch in 2021. He has worked on more 2,200 episodes of the show. He also has announced The Price Is Right, and his voice has appeared on shows including Celebrity Deathmatch and The Cleveland Show.

Before Wheel of Fortune, he was best known as the afternoon anchor on L.A. news radio station KNX 1070.

According to Hollywood insider Rob Shuter, host Ryan Seacrest has no interest in getting involved.

“Ryan doesn’t do drama — especially somebody else’s,” a TV insider told Naughty But Nice. “His survival instinct is incredible. When controversy arrives, Ryan doesn’t play hero. He lets the executives handle it and keeps moving.”

They continued, “Ryan protects Ryan. He doesn’t publicly challenge the network, pick unnecessary fights or attach his brand to another person’s crisis. If there’s trouble, he creates distance — fast.”

One week after the 61-year-old made headlines for accessing LifeLine Chat on an airplane, the company explained, “LifeLine operates a support chat room for people attracted to children and adolescents.”

“We have strict rules against any kind of illicit behavior, including the sharing of criminalized images,” the organization clarified. “Those who violate the rules are swiftly banned and their messages removed as soon as possible.”

The statement continued, “[The site] exists because most people attracted to minors are fully capable of behaving responsibly, yet extremely distressed by the stigmatization of their feelings.”

“They need a place to talk, ensuring better mental health, leading to more positive outcomes for themselves and their local communities,” LifeLine Chat added.

Additionally, the company noted that users can send “messages that the public may consider ‘offensive’ so long as they do not cross legal boundaries or put anyone at risk of harm.”

The statement continued, “Via this methodology, we have successfully diverted users from making bad decisions that would have endangered themselves or others. … Unfortunately, there is no safe way for minor-attracted people to access professional support in the majority of cases.”

Citing the “severe risk of being reported to authorities simply for disclosing one’s feelings,” the statement asked, “Who would seek therapy under the very real threat of being outed and shunned as a ‘pedophile?’ The metaphorical lynching of the celebrity who allegedly visited our chat illustrates this clearly.”

The organization concluded, “LifeLine exists precisely because the world is so incredibly hateful and punitive that minor-attracted people have no other means of support.”.

Deadline
TMZ
TV Line
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Insider
KTLA Los Angeles
Entertainment Weekly
KJTV Lubbock
The Wrap
USA Today
Entertainment Weekly
Page Six
The Washington Post
Page Six
Reality Tea
Entertainment Weekly
TMZ
TMZ (MAY CONTAIN DISTURBING IMAGES)
Page Six
Wide Open Country
The US Sun
Deadline
TV Line
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
TV Insider
The US Sun
Daytime Confidential
KTLA Los Angeles
Entertainment Weekly
Los Angeles Times
Stylecaster
Page Six
Times of India
Page Six

posted 9/9/2026

Wednesday Lightning Round
... or "Kickoff"

  • Jamie Ding challenges the Detroit Lions (Instagram)

  • Friend of the site & friend of ours Adam Nedeff celebrates the Ceramic Dalmatian (99% Invisible/BBC Studios)

  • BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW: Bobby Flay's The Line (Reality Blurred)

  • Jess Edwards, Spencer Conley announce their breakup (Reality Tea)

  • WHY THE BLEEP IS THIS NEWS?: You mean two Disney adults DIDN'T meet at Disney? (TV Insider)

  • Giada De Laurentiis (toe) calls her injury "part of the game" (Deadline)

  • PROGRAMMING NOTE: Wisdom of the Crowd drops on BBC One & iPlayer September 19 (TV Zone)

  • Joe Marler, Jake Bhardwaj to pilot a new quiz for... well, somebody (TV Zone)

posted 9/9/2023


Apploff Television/Fox

Beat Shazam at 100
Music Quiz Celebrates a Milestone
From the Wrap

“Beat Shazam” creator Jeff Apploff always knew that Jamie Foxx would be the secret sauce to his Fox game show’s success.

The executive producer recalled being brought to tears while shooting the first episode, in disbelief that the Oscar and Grammy winner — who he was told would be impossible to book — was actually engaging with the audience while hosting his musical show.

“Everybody told me you will never get this guy,” he told TheWrap. “And then I walked out [onto the ‘Beat Shazam’ stage] and he was on the piano, singing to the audience, and everybody was singing along. I was like, ‘Oh my God, look what we did!’”

Now 100 episodes, eight seasons and $10 million winnings later, Apploff knew that the risk was worth the reward.

“Beat Shazam,” which premiered in May 2017, celebrates its 100th episode Monday — a milestone that Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn says is increasingly rare in the current television landscape.

“It doesn’t happen too often anymore that you get 100 episodes,” the executive told TheWrap. “100 episodes, that’s like 50 seasons of a streaming show.”

“At that time everybody started a game show,” Foxx recalled, pointing to projects associated with Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson and Justin Timberlake. “But we were the only ones to survive. They all fell off.”

The Wrap

posted 9/8/2026

Tom Jones Fired from "The Voice UK"
ITV Cites "Financial Difficulty"
From Deadline

Sir Tom Jones is known for his booming baritone voice — and he has certainly used it to call out ITV‘s decision to fire him from The Voice UK.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the Welsh singer alleged that he was removed from his coaching role on Season 15 of The Voice because of a “financial difficulty with insurance.”

Jones did not elaborate on the issue, but suggested that it was wrong of ITV to brief that he was removed from the show because of a creative refresh.

“They are offering a much-reduced role where I would make an appearance but without being actually involved from the start, and I’m not thrilled about that,” Jones said.

Deadline
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter

posted 9/8/2026

Tuesday Lightning Round
... or "A Preview of Coming Attractions"

  • FIRST LOOKS: Love Island S3 (Netflix, October 6) (The Futon Critic) and Celebrity Weakest Link S2 (Fox, September 21) (The Wrap)

  • Reports of Jimmy Kimmel's late night future have been "speculative" according to ABC (The Wrap)

  • Joe Amabile admits to "struggles" since brain surgery (Reality Tea)

  • ITV calls reports of "Chase Around the World" cancellation "untrue" (Entertainment Daily)

  • A FEW GOOD MINUTES with Jim Peck (WTMJ-AM Milwaukee)


posted 9/8/2026


ATAS

2026 Emmys: And the Awards Go To...
Jeopardy!, Traitors Score Trophies
From various sources

The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny dominated Night 1 of the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday, taking seven trophies including Best Variety Special (Live) and six technical awards.

The Traitors was right behind with six, among them a repeat host win for Alan Cumming and Best Directing for a Reality Program. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert took five in its final season, The Muppet Show four, and Love on the Spectrum three.

Mariska Hargitay won two for My Mom Jayne, for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Best Directing. And Antiques Roadshow won its first Emmy ever after 24 nominations, for Best Structured Reality Program.

Jimmy Kimmel has picked up for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for his work on ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. It is his second consecutive win in the category, having scored it for the same show last year. Kimmel beat Celebrity Family Feud’s Steve Harvey, Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings, Pop Culture Jeopardy!’s Colin Jost and Match Game’s Martin Short.

Apart from Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which moved from Amazon in its first season to Netflix for its second season, the category was dominated by ABC shows.

“Thank you to whoever decided to put our category first because we won last year and it was nothing but seat fillers,” Kimmel said on stage at the Peacock Theater after winning the award.

The win comes as Kimmel is one of the favorites to win Outstanding Variety Series at the Primetime Emmys on September 14. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is up against The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Saturday Night Live after the Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series categories were merged.

However, Kimmel’s win didn’t foreshadow a change in the winner for Outstanding Game Show. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, once again, lost out to Jeopardy!, which has won the award four times in a row since it was moved out of the daytime Emmys in 2023. Jeopardy! also beat out Celebrity Family Feud, The Price Is Right and Wheel of Fortune.

The show is exec produced by Michael Davies with Sarah Whitcomb Foss and Bari Jean Dorman as co-exec producers.

With the winners in bold... AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)

OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
- Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Jeopardy! (ABC/Syndicated)
- The Price Is Right (CBS)
- Wheel of Fortune (ABC/Syndicated)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
- RuPaul Charles - RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Alan Cumming - The Traitors (Peacock)
- Kristen Kish - Top Chef (Bravo)
- Ariana Madix - Love Island USA (Peacock)
- Jeff Probst - Survivor (CBS)

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A GAME SHOW
- Steve Harvey - Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Ken Jennings - Jeopardy! (ABC)
- Colin Jost - Pop Culture Jeopardy! (Netflix)
- Jimmy Kimmel - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)
- Martin Short - Match Game (ABC)

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series
- Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- The Traitors (
Peacock)

Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)

Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC)
- 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (CBS)
- The Oscars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)

Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- Survivor (CBS)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
- The Voice (NBC)

Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program
- America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (MTV)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC)
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
- The Voice (NBC)

Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or REality Program
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- The Oscars (ABC)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Structured Reality Program
- Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
- Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food)
- Love Is Blind (Netflix)
- Queer Eye (Netflix)
- Shark Tank (ABC)

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
- America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (MTV)
- Summer House (Bravo)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- The Voice (NBC)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FX/Hulu)

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series
- The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Nominations by program...
- RuPaul's Drag Race - 9
- The Traitors - 6
- The Amazing Race - 5
- Dancing with the Stars - 5
- Survivor - 5
- Top Chef - 4
- The Voice - 3
- Celebrity Family Feud - 2
- Jeopardy! - 2
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - 2
- Love Is Blind - 1
- Match Game - 1
- Pop Culture Jeopardy! - 1
- The Price Is Right - 1
- Shark Tank - 1

The Futon Critic
Deadline
Deadline
TV Line
The Wrap
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Reality Tea
Reality Blurred
Entertainment Weekly
Variety
Page Six
Gold Derby
Just Jared

Reality Blurred

TV Insider

The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter

Variety

TV Line

Deadline
Deadline

posted 9/6/2026

Whoops...
Richard Osman Appears to Leak Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Date
From the London Standard

Richard Osman appeared to accidentally reveal the secret launch date for series two of Celebrity Traitors during an event at London’s Southbank Centre.

During a live edition on Saturday of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, which the TV presenter co-hosts with journalist Marina Hyde, the 55-year-old said the new series of the BBC reality gameshow would begin on September 23.

The pair were joined by special guest, former Celebrity Traitors finalist Joe Marler, who when speaking about the advice he would give new contestants, said: “What is it September 23 the next series?” To which Osman confirmed: “By the way to point out, it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23… let’s talk about what we call the events of September 23 this year, the cat’s out of the bag isn’t it? Not to repeat it.”

Joe Marler joined the Rest Is Entertainment podcast host on stage at the London’s Southbank Centre Osman also said that from what he had heard from those involved, the new series “sounds like it was quite intense”.

The London Standard
Daily Record
Deadline

posted 9/6/2026

Peacock to Reboot "I'm a Celebrity..."
"Get Me Out of Here" to Star Maura Higgins, Rob Rausch
From the Futon Critic

Peacock greenlights a new competition series "Get Me Out of Here" (wt) from Love Island USA Producer ITV America and co-hosted by Maura Higgins and Rob Rausch. The show is set to air in 2027.

An updated and amped-up take on the massive global format "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" the series is set in a dense and unforgiving jungle, pairing celebrities with a non-famous friend or family member in the ultimate test of friendship. Stripped of every luxury - and the perks, privileges, and creature comforts of celebrity - duos face a series of physical and psychological challenges, earning rewards to avoid elimination. But here, the celebrities don't call the shots - instead, they must partner up, taking the lead or deferring to their bestie, all while the treacherous environment takes its toll. Relying on each other like never before, teams must navigate everything the jungle throws their way as their grit, stamina and resilience are pushed to the limit. With their bonds under pressure, the jungle will reveal which celebs can adapt to life without the VIP treatment, and which BFFs can handle being stuck in the jungle with a star. In the end, only one team will be left standing to claim the $100,000 grand prize.

"Get Me Out of Here" is produced by ITV America. David George, David Eilenberg and Jordana Hochman are the executive producers. The series is based on the international format created by Lifted Entertainment and distributed by ITV Studios.

The Futon Critic
Deadline
The Wrap
TV Insider

posted 9/6/2026


Netflix Studios

More on "The Golden Ticket"
Netflix Clones Gene Wilder's Voice, Releases Trailer
From the Futon Critic

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is dusting off an iconic set piece from the beloved 1971 film starring Gene Wilder.

People reports that the upcoming Netflix game show will feature Wonkavision 2.0, a revamped stage styled after the all-white broadcast studio featured in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. In the original film, Wonkavision 2.0 is where Mike Teavee, played by Paris Themmen, was schooled on the effects of TV addiction.

The studio will hold some of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket’s challenges, including “Wheel of Misfortune,” “Bubble Jeopardy” and “Steal or No Steal.” Those games will be hosted by game show regulars Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal, America’s Got Talent), Nick Cannon (The Masked Singer, America’s Got Talent) and Wayne Brady (Let’s Make a Deal, Don’t Forget the Lyrics!), who will each appear via hologram.

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket showrunners Alison Holloway and Emer Harkin tell People they chose Mandel, 70, Cannon, 45, and Brady, 54, because they are “national treasures beloved for their unpredictable sense of fun and comedy,” and “they fit perfectly into our whimsical Wonka world.” They went on to describe Mandel as the “living embodiment of Willy Wonka,” as he “channeled Gene on set.”

Wonkavision 2.0 will feature a “vanishing” illusion, where contestants will “disappear” into and be “transported” between sets. Designed by Australian magician and magic consultant Adam Mada, the illusions use a fade box where contestants can be seen disappearing and reappearing on the studio monitors in real time.

“It is a beautiful illusion which uses no camera tricks at all, no post and no editing,” Mada tells PEOPLE. “And it works as well as it does for the camera as it does for the real live contestants inside the set. They actually watch the contestants fade and disappear in front of their eyes.”

Holloway tells PEOPLE the contestants were “riveted” by Mada’s illusions, as well as other “mind-boggling tricks.”

The Futon Critic
Deadline
The Wrap
Variety
TV Line
The Hollywood Reporter
Gizmodo
Consequence of Sound
Vulture
AV Club
Unilad
Reality Blurred
The Futon Critic
Gizmodo
Variety
Reality Tea
People
TV Insider

posted 9/6/2026

Labor Day Lightning Round
... or "The World Was Not Enough"

  • "Chase Around the World" reportedly one-and-done at ITV (The Sun)

  • "AGT" contestant Deshundre Vinson charged with death of 4-year-old nephew (WTVC Chattanooga)

  • Richard Osman brings "We Solve Murders" to Netflix (Deadline)

posted 9/6/2023

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